GDLive Newsfeed
We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time. Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
Kaingu's family
access_time 2 years ago
Kaingu received a $484 initial payment.
"The biggest difference in my life is owning an oxen. Since I was born, I have never owned a cow although I had been desiring even to rare goats. Courtesy of GiveDirectly's transfers, I have begun raising livestock hence I am hopeful I shall have more cows and goats that will help my family in future. This makes me feel some sense of self-esteem. It has thus earned me respect among my peers in the village."
Kadzo's family
access_time 2 years ago
Kadzo received a $484 initial payment.
"The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly is that we will very soon be sleeping in a way better house with a better roof than the one we used to live in previously. I also have livestock that will potentially take over the duty of taking care of us after the food, we bought using part of the transfer I received from GiveDirectly, is finished."
Peter's family
access_time 2 years ago
Peter enrolled.
"The biggest challenge is the provision of three meals per day for my family as they are fully dependent on me to provide for their basic needs. I am a casual laborer and on most occasions, I get jobs related to farming on other people's land. On a lucky day, I usually receive a wage of KES 250 after finishing a certain casual task. Most of my payments are done in the evening and since I work from hand to mouth, I use the whole amount to buy foodstuff for my family. This means that if we consume the entire food and the leftovers the following day, there is a chance my family will not have something to take for lunch."
Kipsang's family
access_time 2 years ago
Kipsang enrolled.
"Receiving this money means that my 3 children who are all below 4 years have milk for domestic use. All of them are at the age where a balanced diet food should be adhered to and so milk should be an ever-present component in their diet. Right now, I spent KES 200 to buy them 4 litres of milk daily, and getting this amount regularly is very difficult. I intend to sort out this issue of purchasing milk by buying a dairy cattle worth KES 40000 that is ready for milking. For the rest of the transfer, I plan to stock food for my family and inject some bit of it into my shop."
Asha's family
access_time 2 years ago
Asha received a $468 second payment.
"In my opinion, Give Directly does well by giving people cash and letting them decide on how to spend it. This is the best idea because at the end of the day people have various needs and through the money, a lot has improved in our village. On the other hand, there is nothing they are not doing well."
Cecelia's family
access_time 2 years ago
Cecelia enrolled.
"I don't have money to buy food for my family, I don't have money to reconditioned my house because the house I'm living in right now is breaking down and it's also leaking. Therefore, the challenges I am facing is financial issues. When I received this money from GiveDirectly, I will be able to buy food for my family, build my new house and also make business to get more money to sustain my family."
Elizabeth's family
access_time 2 years ago
Elizabeth received a $484 initial payment.
"The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving the payments from Give Directly is the peace of having a good stronger house. I cannot thank Give Directly enough for the support because I could not have afforded it. I spent my days praying for a way but in all was in vain. if it was not for the transfers, we would still be in the house that half of it had fallen off."
Jumaa's family
access_time 2 years ago
Jumaa received a $484 initial payment.
"I am motorcycle rider but previously I was employed. When I received the first transfer I paid for a motorcycle deposit of KES 25000 which I will be paying for KES 300 daily for 1 year till I clear the remaining balance then I will fully own it. This is a great relief because I will not have to share the profits with anyone hence my income will improve. Part of the money I spent on my wife's dowry. We had stayed for years before for her dowry which later sent her parents to take her and our son away until I pay her dowry. It was not easy for me to bear the shame of seeing my family members being taken away because I could not afford her dowry. This lowered my self-esteem and I could not hold any discussion with my friends because I knew they would tease me. I therefore spent KES 17000 on her dowry and finally they are back home. Part of the money I used to purchase building materials for extending my house. I had a single room but it was too small for my family of three."
Zawadi's family
access_time 2 years ago
Zawadi received a $484 initial payment.
"I paid for a deposit of KES 2000 for a solar panel which I bought on credit and will be paying KES 50 daily for it for a year. It is retailing at KES 40000 which is expensive and the monthly installment is a great deal. I did not have any source of lighting instead I used my phone as the source of light but it doe not have sufficient lighting for the whole family. My spouse had started constructing some rental houses at the nearby center, unfortunately, he lost his job due to the Ovid 19 pandemic, so he left it halfway. I, therefore, spent KES 10000 I spent on timber for roofing and saved KES 25000 for the labor and other expenses that might be incurred in the process of the construction. The rest of the money I spent on both my children's school fees so that I could clear the balance they owed the school and on food for the family."
Salome's family
access_time 2 years ago
Salome received a $484 initial payment.
"I paid KES 22000 for my three children who are in secondary school. They had been sent back home for the fee prior to the transfers, but we only gave them KES 4000 because that was all we could afford at that time. The headteacher allowed them in school but on the condition that we had to clear the balance within one week. I am glad I was able to pay the fee on time, and they are currently in school. The rest of the money I have saved as I wait for the second transfer so that I can use them to boost my business. It is not currently doing well because for a while it has been our only source of income. I need about KES 100000 to get back to its feet and I believe I will achieve this with the transfers."